Journal of clinical anesthesia
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The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is a new concept in airway management. A miniature inflatable mask is positioned in the hypopharynx, forming a low-pressure seal around the laryngeal inlet. The mask is attached via a tube to the breathing circuit. ⋯ It is now widely used in the United Kingdom; however, it is not yet available for sale in the U. S. It has already had a major effect on practice in Britain and has the potential to do the same in the United States.
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Case Reports
Rapid orotracheal intubation in the clenched-jaw patient: a modification of the lightwand technique.
Emergency airway management of the patient with a clenched jaw can present a special challenge to the anesthesiologist. We describe four cases in which the patients had a clenched jaw and nasotracheal intubation was either contraindicated or several attempts had failed. All patients were successfully orotracheally intubated by a modification of the lightwand technique.
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Comparative Study
Which is the safest endotracheal tube for use with the CO2 laser? A comparative study.
To compare the efficacy of special endotracheal tubes manufactured for carbon dioxide (CO2) laser surgery with foil-wrapped and plain red rubber (RR) endotracheal tubes. ⋯ Copper foil-wrapped RR tubes, aluminum foil-wrapped RR tubes, or stainless steel tubes are recommended for laser airway surgery.
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A 69-year-old male with severe coronary artery disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and severe major depression was scheduled for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The patient had previously failed or proved intolerant of antidepressant drug therapy. The nature and severity of the patient's diseases and complexity of potential interactions with ECT and anesthesia required sequential assessment of hemodynamic and airway tolerances with successive treatments. Despite substantial risks for particular patients, ECT may provide the only treatment option for life-threatening psychiatric illness and warrants innovative approaches to anesthetic management.